Water sports boot binding camlock screw

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed for drawing two plates together having a lever with a handle portion and a camming portion. The camming portion circumscribes a pin located therein and is adjacent to a cam washer that provides a surface against which the camming portion can slide. A screw is inserted through the pin and extends through the camming portion and the washer so that it may be inserted and threaded into mounting holes provided on a sporting implement. The screw is inserted through a hole in a binding plate and is threaded into mounting holes provided on a sporting implement. The screw is hand tightened into the sporting implement by hand, and then the cam lever is pivoted. As the cam lever is pivoted, the cam portion slides within the cam washer and vertically displaces the screw, thus drawing the sporting implement tightly against the binding plate.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional ApplicationSerial No. 60/232646, filed on Sep. 14, 2000, the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a mounting apparatus. Morespecifically, it relates to a mounting apparatus for easily mounting afoot binding onto a board without the use of extraneous tools.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Board sports implements such as skis, wakeboards, snowboards, andthe like, generally have foot bindings firmly attached to the implementfor securing a rider's feet to the board. It is important that thebindings are firmly attached to the implement to provide the rider withpositive control over the implement to maintain balance, perform variousmaneuvers, and as a safety precaution from the board becoming detachedfrom the rider and injuring either the rider or other persons. Thisattachment usually requires a tool to install and tighten standardmachine screws.

[0006] Certain board sports, such as wakeboarding, for example, oftensee several riders sharing a common board in succession. Because of anindividual's preference as to the location and orientation of thebindings to maximize comfort while riding the board, it is oftennecessary to remove and reattach the bindings between riders.Traditional binding mounting methods require a tool, such as ascrewdriver, hexdriver, balldriver, etc., to remove and reattach thebindings in a desired position. Additionally, binding screws have atendency to loosen when subjected to alternating stresses and vibrationduring use, and therefore must often be tightened between rides. Thisbecomes especially difficult when trying to manipulate the screws with atool while on a moving boat. A boat's erratic oscillations make itdifficult to manipulate screws and can result in the tool being dropped,or even lost if dropped overboard.

[0007] Finally, repeated tightening of a screw into a threaded insertprovided in a board, especially if excessive torque is applied, canresult in the threaded insert being pulled out of, and damaging, theboard.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a binding attachment device thatcan be installed and tightened without the need for tools. Furthermore,it would be advantageous if there were a binding attachment device thatwas not loosened by vibration and the alternating stresses accompanyingnormal use. Finally, it would be a substantial improvement if there werea binding attachment that were more gentle with the threaded insertsprovided in today's wakeboards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The preferred embodiments of the present camlock screw solve theabove-mentioned problems by providing a camlock screw. Morespecifically, the preferred embodiments provide a device for attachingbindings to various sport riding implements without the use of extrinsictools. The camlock device allows a user thereof to hand-tighten abinding to a riding implement without the use of any tools, and then usea cam mechanism to securely fasten the binding to the riding implement.A camlever is attached to a screw such that when the lever is engaged,the screw is drawn upward, thus tightening the riding implement againstthe binding. Because the screw is not harshly torqued into the ridingimplement, there is no tendency to twist the threaded inserts out of theriding implement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a camlock screw in anon-engaged position.

[0011]FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a camlever assembly.

[0012]FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a camlock screw mounted to aboard in an engaged position.

[0013]FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional diagram of the camlock screw ofFIG. 3 along section line 4-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014]FIGS. 1 through 4 show a camlock screw 100 having features andadvantages that solve the problems of the prior art. As used herein, theterm “camlock” is used in its broad sense, and has its ordinary meaning,including, without limitation, a fastener wherein rotation of a camtranslates into linear movement of an adjacent piece, thereby moving afirst piece against a secondary piece. Referencing FIG. 1, the camlockscrew 100 comprises a camlever 10 preferably formed to have a handlesection 18 and a camming section 12. The camming section 12 isconfigured to have a base radius R1 and a rise radius R2, where R2>R1.The center of the camming section 12 has a through bore formed thereinand is configured to receive a pin 20. The bore is slightly larger thanthe pin 20 such that the bore is rotatable about the pin 20. The cammingsection 12 rests on a cam washer 30, which is adjacent to a cup washer40. In operation, the cam lever 10 is rotated either in a clockwise orcounter clockwise direction about the center 28 of pin 20. As thecamlever is pivoted, the washers 30, 40 provide a firm surface againstwhich the camming surface 12 engages, thereby displacing the pin 28vertically. The displacement distance is equal to R2 minus R1. In thismanner, a pivotal movement of the camlever 18 translates into a linear,vertical displacement of the pin 20 as will be described in furtherdetail below. Finally, a screw 50 is inserted through pin 20 and extendsdownward through the cam washer 30 and cup washer 40. Alternatively, itis contemplated herein that screw 50 could extend upwards from asporting implement and be received into the camlock screw 100. Thiscould be accomplished by first threading a screw into the threadedinsert located in a mounting hole of a sporting implement.Alternatively, a sporting implement could be configured with a T-slotfor receiving and securing the head of a screw. After which, the camlockscrew 100 is attached to the screw extending from the board and thecamlock screw 100 is used as described herein.

[0015]FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a camlever 10 for use withthe present camlock screw. In this top view figure, the camlever is inan engaged position, or parallel to a riding implement. Camlever 10 hasa handle portion 18 and a camming portion 12. The camming portion 12 isbifurcated to expose the inserted pin 20. The pin 20 has a radialcounter-bored through hole 22 formed therein to receive a screw (notshown). The hole 22 is preferably sized and shaped to securely hold ascrew and prohibit rotational movement of the screw once inserted intothe hole 22. This may be accomplished by providing a screw 50 in theform of a stud which has threads formed on both ends. The stud isthreaded into the hole 22 in the pin, and then the pin is compressedsuch that the threaded hole becomes slightly deformed. The slightdeformation of the hole threads interfere with the screw threads andthus prevent the screw from rotating within the hole. Preventingrotational movement of the screw may further be accomplished byproviding the hole 22 with a counter-bore 24, preferably with a hexshape to roughly half the hole's depth. The hole 22 below thecounter-bore 24 has a circular cross section 26 and is sized to slidablyreceive a screw as will be discussed in more detail later. The bottom ofthe counter-bore 24 provides a shoulder that interferes with the screwhead to prevent it from being pulled through the hole. An alternativeembodiment utilizes a threaded hole into which the screw is threadeduntil the head sinks into the counter-bore. Additionally, the threadedhole may be slightly out of round before assembly which then requires asignificant torque to thread the screw into the hole and provides enoughthread friction to prevent the screw from backing out during use.Optimally, the screw is prevented from unintentionally backing out ofthe hole from the vibrations and alternating stresses concomitant withnormal use through any acceptable configuration.

[0016]FIG. 3 illustrates the camlock screw 100 attached to a board 70,and in the engaged position. The camlock screw 100 is used to mount abinding plate 60 onto a board 70. A pad 80 is disposed between thebinding plate 60 and the board 80 to protect the board from damage fromthe binding and to provide some resilience in the mounting. As will bediscussed in relation to FIG. 4, the screw 50 is threaded into the board70. After which, the cam lever (not shown) is pivoted about centerline28 in either direction, which causes the camming section 12 to rotateabout the pin 20. Notably, the camming section 12 rotates relative tothe pin 20, which remains stationary. As the cam lever 18 is pivoted andthe camming section 12 slides on the cam washer 30, the distance betweenthe pin center 28 and the cam washer 30 is thus increased from R1 to R2,thereby putting the screw 50 in tension and tightening the mechanism 100against the board 70. The cam washer 30 is preferably made of asubstantially self-lubricating material, such as nylon,polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Delrin®, such that the combination ofthe cam washer 30 and camming surface 12 has a low coefficient offriction and the cam washer 30 may act as a bearing to allow the cammingsurface 12 to rotate smoothly on the cam washer 30, even when underpressure. It is contemplated that the device will be used for watersports, among others, and consequently, other parts 10, 20, 50, and 40are preferably made of a substantially non-corrosive metal such asaluminum or stainless steel.

[0017] In reference to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view taken along line4-4 of FIG. 3 is shown. The cam lever 10 has a through bore into which apin 20 is received. The pin 20 has a radial through-hole 26 formedtherein for receiving a screw 50. The camlock 100 is configured with abuilt-in, spring-loaded, ball detent mechanism. The cam lever 18 has achamber 68 formed therein for receiving a spring 66 and a ball 64. Thepin is further configured with dimples 62 formed on both sides thereof,the operation of which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

[0018] In operation, the upper portion 52 of threaded screw 50 ispreferably threaded up into the hole 26 during manufacture. The screw isthreaded up a distance such that the upper end of the screw remainswithin the pin 20 and does not protrude therefrom. The screw is thenfixedly positioned therein as described above, for example by crimpingthe pin until the hole threads deform and make removal of the screw 50difficult. With the screw 50 secured in the hole 26, the entire camlockmechanism 100 is rotated as the screw 50 is inserted into mounting holesformed within the board 70. The mounting holes each have a threadedinsert 54 for receiving the threads of the screw 50. As the camlock isrotated clockwise, the screw 50 is threaded into the threaded insert 54.The camlock 100 is hand tightened until snug, after which, the cam lever10 is rotated about the pin 28 until the cam handle 18 is substantiallyparallel to the board 70. As the cam lever 10 is rotated, the cammingportion 12 slides on the cam washer 30 and vertically displaces the pin20. As the pin is vertically displaced, the screw 50 and board 70 aredrawn upward, while the washers 30, 40 and mounting plate 60 are pusheddownward thus compressing the foam pad 80 and binding the mounting plate60 and board 70 tightly together. The resultant force is dependent uponthe shape of the camming section 12, and the elasticity of the foam pad80. A specific force is not required to effectuate the binding, rather,it is sufficient that the resulting force draw the screw 50 in tensionan amount to securely hold the binding plate 60 to the board 70. Thecamming section 12 is preferably shaped so that the lever 10 may bepivoted in either direction to effectuate the biding of the plate 60 tothe board 70.

[0019] To help maintain the cam lever 10 in its desired position, a balldetent mechanism is integrated into the cam lever 10. The cam lever 10has a chamber 68 which receives a steel spring 66 and a steel ball 64. Acooperating dimple 62 is formed in both sides of the pin 20. As the camlever 10 is pivoted to its locked position as shown in FIG. 4, thespring 66 biases a portion of the ball 64 into the dimple 62. The detentmechanism provides a positive stop for the cam lever 10 as the contactof the ball and dimple interfere with additional, unwanted pivotalmovement of the cam lever 10. Dimples 62 are provided on both sides ofthe pin 20 to allow the cam lever 10 to be pivoted either clockwise orcounter-clockwise about the pin 20. Additionally, the hole 26 provides arecess for receiving a portion of the ball 64 when the cam lever 10 isin a vertical, or unlocked, position to prevent the cam lever 10 frombeing free to loosely flop around. The dimples 62 are configured withsidewalls such that intentional pivotal movement of the cam lever 10forces the ball to retract into the chamber 68 and allows the cam lever10 to pivot to its desired position.

[0020] One way to prevent a screw from loosening due to vibration is totighten it. In other words, a screw may be prevented from loosening byapplying a large mean stress to the screw such that the friction betweenthe screw threads and the hole threads prevent loosening. A mean stressis traditionally applied by torquing the screw a predetermined amount toapply a tension force sufficient to slightly elongate the screw. Thescrew's elastic tendency to return to its original length maintains anincreased contact force between the screw threads and the insertthreads. In a similar way, the present camlock screw utilizes the cammechanism to apply a tension force to the screw once it ishand-tightened into the threaded insert 54 in the board 70. Bypre-tensioning the screw in this manner, the screw threads and theinsert threads are engaged in frictional contact sufficient to overcomeany tendency to loosen from vibration. Consequently, a simple tensionforce is transmitted to the threaded inserts 54 instead of a torque,which prevents the threaded insert from being twisted out of the board.

[0021] As will be obvious to those of skill in the art, a camlock screw100 having features and advantages of the present camlock screw may alsobe used in conjunction with snow sports boards and skis as well as otherboards having bindings. Although the camlock screw has been disclosed inthe context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the present camlock screwextends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to otheralternative embodiments or uses of the invention and obviousmodifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that thescope of the present camlock screw disclosed and described herein shouldnot be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above,but should be solely determined by reference to the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for drawing two plates together,said apparatus comprising: a lever having a handle portion and a cammingportion, said camming portion having a bore and receiving a pin therein;a washer interposed between said camming portion and a first plate andconfigured to contact said camming portion along at least a portion ofits outer surface; a screw having a proximal end located within said pinand a distal mounting end extending through said camming portion andthrough said washer, and fixed to a second plate;
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said bore in said camming portion is sized to receivesaid pin such that said camming portion can rotate around said pin. 3.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pin has a radial through holeformed therein and configured to receive a screw.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein said through hole is counter-bored to form a shoulderthat interferes with said head end of said screw thereby preventing itfrom being pulled through said hole.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4,wherein said counter-bore is sized and shaped to prevent rotation ofsaid screw head end within said hole.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3,wherein said through hole is threaded and receives a threaded screw. 7.The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said hole is deformed to tightly gripa screw therein and prevent unwanted rotation of said screw.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said camming portion defines at least tworadiuses and is moveable between a first and a second position.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein moving said camming portion from saidfirst to said second position draws said screw in an upwardly verticaldirection, thus forcing said first and second plates into contact. 10.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said washer is formed of aself-lubricating polymer.
 11. A camlock screw for mounting a bindingplate onto a sporting implement, the camlock screw comprising a leverattached to a cam, said cam having a camming surface and opposing flatside surfaces, said camming surface defining at least two radiuses. 12.The camlock screw of claim 11, further comprising a pin slidablyreceived into a bore formed within said camming section flat sidesurfaces and rotatable therein.
 13. The camlock screw of claim 12,wherein said pin has a radial through hole formed therein.
 14. Thecamlock screw of claim 13, wherein said hole is threaded to receive ascrew therein.
 15. The camlock screw of claim 14, further comprising ascrew inserted into said hole and extending through said cammingsurface.
 16. The camlock screw of claim 15, wherein said screw issecured within said hole.
 17. The camlock screw of claim 16, furthercomprising a cam washer adjacent to, and in contact with, said cammingsurface and formed of a material that allows said camming surface toslide on said cam washer.
 18. The camlock screw of claim 17, whereinsaid cam washer material is a polymer.
 19. The camlock screw of claim17, wherein said cam is positionable between at least a first and secondposition.
 20. The camlock screw of claim 19, wherein positioning saidcam from a first to a second position results in a vertical displacementof said screw.
 21. The camlock screw of claim 19, further comprising adetent mechanism for providing a positive stop to maintain said camlever in said first or second position.
 22. A method for removablymounting a binding onto a sporting implement, the method comprising thesteps of: providing a sporting implement; providing a binding to beattached to an upper surface of said sporting implement; positioning acamlock screw such that it passes through said binding and is removablymounted to said sporting implement; and pivoting a lever of said camlockscrew from a first position to a second position which draws saidsporting implement and binding together.
 23. The method of claim 22,wherein the camlock screw is removably mounted into said sportingimplement by threading a threaded fastener into a hole in the sportingimplement.
 24. The method of claim 22, including the further step ofpivoting said lever of said camlock screw from said second position tosaid first position.
 25. The method of claim 24, including the furtherstep of removing said camlock screw from the sporting implement andbinding and removing said binding.
 26. The method of claim 25, whereinremoval of said camlock screw from said sporting implement isaccomplished by unscrewing a threaded fastener from mounting holesformed in said sporting implement.
 27. An apparatus for mounting abinding onto a sporting implement, said apparatus comprising: a leverhaving a handle portion and a camming portion; a washer interposedbetween said camming portion and a binding plate and configured tocontact said camming portion; a screw having a proximal end locatedwithin said camming portion and a distal mounting end extending throughsaid camming portion and through said washer, and fixed to a sportingimplement; and a means for drawing the sporting implement tightlyagainst said binding plate.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein saidcamming portion includes a first radius and at least one area having asecond radius.
 29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said screw isreceived into a hole formed in said sporting implement.
 30. Theapparatus of claim 27, wherein said screw proximal end is prevented fromrotating within said camming portion.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30,wherein said screw is prevented from rotating within said cammingportion by means of friction against the threads of the screw.
 32. Abinding for attaching a rider to a sporting implement, the bindingcomprising: a binding mounting plate having mounting holes formedtherethrough; a cam mechanism having a camming portion adjacent to a topside of said binding plate; and a mounting portion connected to said cammechanism and extending through said mounting holes downward throughsaid binding plate.
 33. The binding of claim 32, wherein said cammechanism includes a handle positionable between at least a first andsecond position.
 34. The binding of claim 33, wherein said cam mechanismfirst and second positions correspond to a first and second radius ofsaid camming portion.
 35. The binding of claim 34, wherein said mountingportion is a threaded fastener.
 36. The binding of claim 35, whereinmoving said cam mechanism from a first position to a second positionresults in said threaded fastener displacing vertically.
 37. A sportingimplement adapted with a camlock attachment system for attaching a footbinding thereto, the implement comprising: a mounting portion extendingvertically therefrom; a binding plate having a mounting hole andconfigured to receive said mounting portion; and a camlock mechanismattachable to an upper end of said mounting portion.
 38. The implementof claim 37, wherein said camlock mechanism comprises a cam levermoveable between at least a first and second position.
 39. The implementof claim 38, wherein said first and second position correspond with afirst and second radius of said camlock mechanism.
 40. The implement ofclaim 39, wherein moving said cam lever from said first to said secondposition results in said implement and said binding plate being drawntightly together.
 41. The implement of claim 37, wherein said mountingportion is a threaded fastener.